Wal-Mart plans store here

By Jennifer Emmons

El Defensor Chieftain

jatkinson@dchieftain.com

   The rumors around town have been confirmed: Wal-Mart will be opening a supercenter in Socorro.

   Daphne Moore, community affairs manager for Wal-Mart stores in New Mexico, said the nationwide chain, which sells a little bit of everything, is planned to open in Socorro in 2005.

   The proposed location, she said, is the northeast corner of 6th Street and Proto Avenue, and the company plans a 100,000 square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter.

   "I don't show that we have closed on the land yet, but we do have an agreement to buy the land," Moore said. "We are still in very preliminary stages at this point."

   Moore did not say who Wal-Mart will be buying the land from.

   The store is targeted to open sometime in the first part of 2005, she said. A definite construction start date has not been determined.

   "We chose Socorro because it's a great opportunity to serve new customers," Moore said.

   Holm Bursum IV, vice president of First State Bank and president of the Socorro County Chamber of Commerce, said that Moore's statement are true about Wal-Mart coming to Socorro.

   Although Mayor Ravi Bhakser said the City Council will be considering a land swap exchanging a parcel of land owned by Bursum just north of the Radio Shack on California Street with a piece of city-owned land about 75 feet north of the land owned by Bursum, he said he is not positive about Wal-Mart's intentions on building a store here.

   "I know there's been a rumor and (Wal-Mart) officials have been in town, looking at sites," Bhasker said last month. "They're (Wal-Mart representatives) definitely looking, though.

   "I know the Bursum's have been approached about a site," Bhasker said.

   In an earlier Chieftain article, Bursum said that Wal-Mart has been looking at opening in town, but nothing's been decided.

   "They've looked at our site in central Socorro, off California Street across from El Camino Restaurant and Lounge, but they have also looked at other properties as well," Bursum said.

   City Clerk Pat Salome said the land swap, which would be for an entrance to the property, is being considered early next week because the parcel of land owned by Bursum is too far south and that the city-owned property is closer to where the Wal-Mart will be located.

   "The idea would be to exchange land north of the Radio Shack for a piece of land about 75 feet south," Salome said. "It's not that far, but the piece of land near 6th and California, near the Radio Shack, is too narrow and not in a great spot."

   Bhasker did say that Bursum requested the land exchange issue to be included on Monday's City Council agenda to be deliberated.

   "The land exchange is being done at my request for business purposes," Bursum said.

   On the City Council agenda, the request specifies that the land exchange is for the purpose of facilitating a Wal-Mart store entrance.

   Despite confirmation the Chieftain got from Moore, Bursum said that although negotiations are under way, nothing is finalized or confirmed.

   "We're getting ready to accommodate the new Wal-Mart (by exchanging land with Bursum)," Bhasker said, "which would be (located) on land off California Street.

   "We don't have any specifics and we haven't spoken with them (Wal-Mart representatives) yet, but I'm anticipating a meeting soon," he said.

   Bhasker said he has spoken a Wal-Mart representative on the phone once before, but he has never met face-to-face with any officials to confirm their desire of opening a Wal-Mart in Socorro.

   "Within the next 30 days, I know they are planning a meeting with city officials," he said. "Until then, it's hard to say for sure what their plan is."

   "By considering exchanging land, we are getting prepared for the store coming because there obviously will be a traffic concern (if a Wal-Mart were to open on California Street)," Bhasker said.

   With a couple other larger businesses moving into town, he said, traffic will become a top priority for the city and for resident.

   "We are now also trying to work with the new Family Dollar Store people because the area might get congested," he said.

   Bhasker would not verify if Wal-Mart representatives have officially stated they were opening a store, but about a month ago, he said in a Chieftain article that Wal-Mart representatives have been visiting Socorro and scouting possible sites.

   "Until the first shovel of dirt is turned, I'm not going to really count on them coming, though," Bhasker said. "Wal-Mart officials are the ones who really do all the work. It's up to Wal-Mart to decide where they want to definitely locate and if they are definitely wanting to locate in Socorro."

   City Councilor Donald Monette said he thinks a Wal-Mart in Socorro is going to be a good thing because "they offer employment, training and benefits to their employees. "There's also opportunities for advancement for the employees, so not only would we have people getting trained and leaving Socorro, but we'd be training people who will remain in town," he said.

   Monette said he believes if the other stores in town sell things that Wal-Mart doesn't, then they will find their niche within the community, alongside incoming businesses.

   "I think there will be a time of adjustment and some resistance," Monette said.

   A plus, however, that people have to consider, he said, is that with a Wal-Mart in Socorro, it will bring more business in general from surrounding areas that currently go to Belen or Los Lunas and "every business will benefit from that."

   "The family-owned businesses might specialize in something Wal-Mart doesn't and people will realize that," he said.

   Monette said initially smaller businesses may see a decline in business, but after a certain amount of time, customers will still value and shop smaller business for specialized items.

   Chuck Zimmerly, a city councilor, said anything that is brought to our economy is good, but he said he does worry about the local establishments.

   "Hopefully, it will just increase the overall business atmosphere and increase business retail," Zimmerly said. "I hope it doesn't have a negative impact, but that's something we have to wait and see what happens.

   "Wal-Mart does an awful lot of research before they open a new store, so that seems they feel this is a good market and they will be successful," he said

   Zimmerly said he will continue to worry about long-time, small family-owned businesses, but according to what some people say, he said, it might just increase the overall flow of business.

   "Maybe it won't hurt any business if they (local businesses) keep up with the competition and offer quality products," he said.

   "All of this was a complete surprise to me -- I didn't think they (Wal-Mart) would really come here, but I guess they are and I will stay positive about it," he added.

   Councilor Gary Jaramillo said he has mixed feeling about the new business.

   "It would make some pretty drastic business changes and I would hope for a gradual change," Jaramillo said. "I don't think it will necessarily be a bad thing, but there's nothing we can do for or against a Wal-Mart, so it's good to focus on the positive."

   Local merchants seemed to be split about Wal-Mart opening in Socorro. Some see it as a positive, healthy stride for the community. Others feel it will drive smaller, family-owned businesses into bankruptcy.

   Scott Jameson, store director of Smith's Food Center at 901 N. California St., said a Wal-Mart store will be detrimental to smaller businesses.

   "Yeah, it will definitely hurt the little guys," Jameson said.

   Jameson, who used to live in Clovis, said Wal-Mart opened there and he saw all the people they put out of business.

   "A lot of people lost their jobs and benefits," he said. "Wal-Mart's rate of pay is a lot less (than other unionized businesses); other companies in town, I think, offer great employment and opportunities for their employees."

   In Clovis, he said, the Wal-Mart Store did put Furr's food store out of business.

   Gianna Matthews, owner of Brownbilt Shoes & Western Wear, at 111 Manzanares Ave., said she thinks anything that will help stimulate the economy is good.

   There isn't anything good about Wal-Mart coming to small towns, said Mary Reilly, owner of Olde Dana Book Store, located at 203 Manzanares Ave.

   "I came from a town in Massachusetts where we kept one (a Wal-Mart) out -- it made national news," Reilly said.

   "I don't think it's good for a town. You see these Wal-Mart towns and there's nothing else left there. It would be unfortunate to do that to Socorro," she said.

   Reilly said she can't imagine Wal-Mart's reasoning for coming to Socorro, being that there's two Wal-Mart stores along I-25, one in Belen and one in Los Lunas. "I don't see how they'd get enough business here," she said.

   "If you go up to Belen, you can see what they do to small businesses -- all you have is Wal-Mart and nothing else."

   Most business owners Reilly said she's spoken with don't seem to be very much against it and she can't figure out why, "which could prove that I may be very wrong, but that really surprises me.

   "I hate to see to see it happen to Socorro -- this is a nice little town and I wish it would stay a nice little town, but I guess things change," Reilly said.

   Blake Gerard, owner of Socorro Office Supply, at 122 Plaza, said he's looking forward to Wal-Mart coming to town.

   "I think it's great," Gerard said. "Anytime a new store opens, it's great for the retail in that community."

   Ray Hurtgen, owner of Brook's Super Mart at 300 N. California St., said he doesn't have a good feeling about Wal-Mart coming to Socorro.

   "I can't believe they're coming here, but if they are, they are," Hurtgen said. "My feeling on Wal-Mart is that they come to town -- they are the largest company that owns vacant property nationwide -- and they go into small towns and smaller businesses go out of business."

   However, Hurtgen said that he doesn't believe Socorro has the consumer base to support a Wal-Mart.

   It's pretty obvious, he said, that Wal-Mart takes over vacant property in small towns, but Wal-Mart is looking to profit and capitalize. If they profit as they speculated in a town, then they'll move, causing a dent in the smaller businesses.

   "The only thing that scares me is that if they take everything we have, not just grocery stores, but the clothing stores and other independent stores, and we, as small business owners, will hurt," he said.

   "They (smaller, locally owned businesses) may not go out of business, but they'll hurt. I don't think Wal-Mart will make enough business to stay here," he continued. "It (Wal-Mart) will take gross receipts away from other stores and in my opinion, it won't be a good thing."

   Hurtgen said he thinks Wal-Mart officials believe that people from more southern towns, like Truth or Consequences, will come to shop at the Wal-Mart in Socorro.

   "I don't see people from other areas coming here, like from from T or C, to shop. People from T or C would just as soon go to Las Cruces, where they can go to movies, out to big restaurants and all that rather than to Socorro," he said.

   He said a Brook's Super Mart near Grants hurt financially when a Wal-Mart opened there, "but they're back up and doing good."

   Max Torres, who owns Sunset Lounge and Package Store on California Street, who's son, Max Torres Jr., is a manager at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Los Lunas, said he's known about Wal-Mart representatives looking at property around Socorro, and had only recently learned that the store will be opening.

   Kenny Duke, manager of Alco Discount Store, said he doesn't feel Wal-Mart or the Family Dollar Store, opening in the fall, will affect the store's business.

   Gary Stendel, owner of Bobbie's Bobbin, said he is not happy about Wal-Mart opening in Socorro.

   "I don't feel real well about it," Stendel said. "I suspect it will take away some business.

   "I suspect it will be detrimental to Socorro and I suspect that everything will be at one store (taking business from smaller, family-owned stores)," he said. "I don't think they have a customer base here in Socorro. I don't think they have the support at all."

   David Torres, who co-owns Gambles True Value with his brother, Paul, said they knew Wal-Mart was opening for a while.

   "I don't think any paperwork has been signed or if (Wal-Mart officials) have applied for a permit, but I know my brother met with Holm Bursum IV (vice president of First State Bank) and confirmed that Wal-Mart is coming," Torres said in an earlier Chieftain article.

   David Torres, owner of Gambles True Value, said he supports the new business coming to town.

   "I think it's a positive sign for the community. I think it's a coming-of-age for Socorro," Torres said. "I'd much rather see it in Socorro than out of town, so the city can tax it."

   Torres said he and his brother, Paul, do feel, however, that with the Wal-Mart opening in town, a lot of small businesses throughout the county will be hurt.

   "I think it will be up to the individual business owners themselves to adjust," David Torres said. "They (Wal-Mart) can pretty much dictate what prices they can sell their product at.

   "We (small-business owners) will still offer fast and friendly service, as we always have," he continued.

   Torres said the opening of Wal-Mart would be more devastating if it were to open 10 to 20 miles out of town. Since it will be in the center of town, it would generate more traffic throughout town, hence, increasing business locally.

   Torres said that along with a Family Dollar Store and a Movie Gallery video store, a Chili's Restaurant, too, will soon be opening in Socorro, along with a new hotel chain, at the southern end of town, all on the heels of the Wal-Mart opening.

   "Look at the spin-offs that will come from it -- Chili's Restaurant, a new hotel chain and other businesses all designed to generate more traffic within the county and trade area," he said.

   The Family Dollar store is currently under construction. Construction is expected to be complete by Aug. 15, said Odell Spurlin, owner of Spurlin and Associates.

   Spurlin's company is leasing the land at Francisco de Avando and California Street, from Socorroan Gin A. Jue, a former county commissioner.

   The Movie Gallery, a video store chain, which will be adjacent to the Family Dollar Store, has not yet executed a lease, but is expected to soon.